Central Purchase Scheme for RUPCHA Region
Background: During one of the meetings of our Regional Advisory Council, which consists of representatives from all the 16 Dioceses of the region, it was proposed and decided to organize a central purchase system at the regional level, covering all hospital procurement needs, starting with the consumables first, to maintain better quality services in our own mission hospitals and affordable to our target groups i.e. middle and lower class families. Our work is not profit motive oriented so uniformity in purchasing cost is very necessary.
In the above context it was proposed to organize a wider consultative meeting of the heads (decision making personnel) of the larger hospitals, to gather feedback, brainstorm and pool ideas, leading to important decisions, on the 16th of August 2013, at our Delhi office.
It was agreed that if all our larger hospitals come together under one collective procurement system, benefit to each of the constituent hospital will be considerably high.
The Central Procurement System has been in operation for the last 10 years and 54 member hospitals with 4000+ beds are participating in and benefitting from the scheme. We have included medicine, consumables, reagents, equipment, furniture, etc in the system. For each product, we enter into contracts after a review process with three companies, without compromising on the quality of the product, service and price.
It makes sure that the applicable rate for each item remains the same for all member hospitals. In this way, we have been able to ensure the availability of items to small hospitals too. Periodic review meetings are organized at the regional level to monitor and check the quality and efficiency of products and services. The member hospitals suggest & decide on good products & companies.